Machine for use in the manufacture of shoes



R. H. LAWSON Filed Dec. 50, 1939 s Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 12, 1941.

MACHINE FOR USE. IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SHOES ,vl I

Aug. 12, 1941. R. H. LAWSON MACHINE FOR USE IN THE MANUFA CTURE 0F SHOES Filed Dec.,50, 1939 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 12, 1941. wso 2,252,325

- MACHINE FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SHOES Filed Dec. -30, 19:59 6- Sheets-Sheet 3 g. 12 1941 R. H. LAWSON) 2, 52,325

MACHINE FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SHOES Filed Dec. 30, 1939 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Aug. 12, 1941. R. H. LAWSON MACHINE FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SHOES 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 30, 1939 g- 12, 1941- R.H. LAWSON 2,252,325

MACHINE FOR USE IN THEMANUFACTURE 0F SHOES 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Dec. 30, 1939 Patented Aug. 12, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MACHINE FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SHOES Jersey Application December 30, 1939, Serial No. 311,794

Claims.

The present invention relates to machines for use in the manufacture of shoes of the general type which comprise devices for performing an operation along the bottom margin of a shoe, a shoe supporting jack, and mechanism for controlling the relative positions of the jack and operating devices as the point of operation of said devices is transferred along the shoe. The several features of the invention are herein disclosed as embodied in an automatic side lasting machine and are intended primarily as improvements on the machine disclosed in applicants pending application Serial No. 231,750 filed September 26, 1938. It is to be understood, however, that except where so stated in the claims, the several features of the present invention are not limited to use in any particular machines of the general type above referred to.

The machine disclosed in applicants pending application above referred to, like machines of this general type, is provided with a driving mechanism which is thrown into operation by the depression of a treadle and which is thrown out of operation automatically at the conclusion of the operation on the shoe. Like machines of this general type, the machine of applicants pending application is also provided with means under the control of the operator for throwing the driving mechanism out of operation. A disadvantage of these machines is that the machine will continue in operation in case the treadle is kept depressed at a point in the operation of the machine when the machine would otherwise be automatically stopped. Also, in these machines, in order for the operator to start and stop the, machine, it is necessary for the operator to actuate first the treadle to start the machine and then a manually controlled lever to stop the machine.

Objects of the present invention are to improve the mechanism for controlling the driving matic stopping mechanism so that the machine may be started and stopped by the direct action of the foot treadle.

In machines of the general character above referred to, devices are provided which act on the connections between the treadle and the driving mechanism for holding the driving mechanism in operation, and these devices are actuated automatically at the conclusion of the operation on the shoe to permit the driving mechanism to be thrown out of operation. With the above stated objects of the present invention in View, a feature of the present invention contemplates the provision of means whereby the automatic actuation of these retaining devices to release the connections between the treadle and the driving mechanism simultaneously disconnects these connections from the treadle. The connections between the treadle and the driving mechanism are thus rendered operative, and the driving mechanism will be thrown out automatically even if the treadle is kept depressed. In order to place the driving mechanism directly under the control of the starting treadle so that depression and release of the treadle will act directly to throw the driving mechanism into and out of operation, a feature of the present invention contemplates the provision of -manually controlled means for rendering the retaining devices above referred to inoperative and thus placing the connections between the treadle and the driving mechanism directly under the control of the treadle both to throw the mechanism into operation and also to throw it out of operation.

In the machine of applicants prior application above referred to, the mechanism for exerting an upward pressure on the jack during the operation on the shoe comprises a spring which, at the conclusion of the operation on the shoe is rendered inoperative and is locked out of operation by the straightening of a toggle to which the spring is connected and which is arranged to be flexed more or less during the up and down movements of the jack during the operation on the shoe. This toggle, in addition to locking the spring connected to the jack out of operation is also arranged to force the jack outwardly away from operating position at the conclusion of the operation on the shoe when the toggle is straightened, and is also arranged to be broken by the return of the jack inwardly to operative position. It is desirable that this toggle, after being straightened be retained securely in this condition until the jack with a shoe thereon is properly positioned beneath the devices which operate on the shoe, since a premature breaking of the toggle will permit the spring to exert a strong upward pressure on the jack while the shoe is out of position, and thereby render the manipulation of the jack to operative position by the operator diflicult and possibly cause injury to the shoe or to various parts of the machine. Also it is desirable that the toggle be prevented from being moved to a completely straightened position when flexed by the up and down movements of the jack, which movements, during the operations on certain styles of shoes are sufficient to impart appreciable flexing movements to the toggle. To secure these results, a feature of the present invention contemplates the provision of means arranged to act only while the toggle is in straightened position to resist movement of the toggle from said position. Also a feature of the invention contemplates the provision of means, acting as the toggle nears straightened position during a downward movement of the jack, to resist further movement of the toggle. In the machine of applicants prior application, a slide is connected to the toggl which locks the jack spring out of operation, which slide is arranged to move the jack outwardly from operative position as the toggle is straightened and to be actuated by the jack to break the toggle as the jack moves inwardly to operative position. In embodying the features of invention above referred to in the machine of applicants prior application, the means for resisting movement of the toggle to straightened position during a downward movement of the jack and to resist movement of the toggle from straightened position, after being straightened at the end of the operation on the shoe, comprises a device arranged to act on the slide connected to the toggle.

In connection with the mechanism of the machine of applicants prior application for exerting an upward pressure on the jack, a feature of the present invention consists of an improved connection between the cord through which an upward pressure is imparted to the jack and the jack frame. In the machine of the application, the cord, after passing over a guide on the base member of the jack supporting structure, is pivotally connected to the jack frame and the other of which is pivotally connected to the base member of the jack supporting structure. With this construction, a varying upward pressur is exerted by the cord on the jack frame, due to the flexing, during the up and down movements of the jack, of the toggle formed by these links. To avoid this variation in pressure, the improved construction embodying this feature of the invention contemplates connecting the cord to one end of a link which has a sliding engagement with the base member of the jack supporting structure and at its other end is pivotally connected to the jack frame.

A further object of the present invention is to improve the upper stretching gripper mechanism of lasting machines of the general character disclosed in applicants prior application above referred to, and with this object in View, a feature of the invention contemplates th provision of means conveniently accessible by the operator for adjusting the tension of the spring through which a yielding updraw movement is imparted to the upper stretching gripper, this means being operable if desired to adjust the tension of the spring during the operation of the machine.

In addition to the features of the invention above referred to, the present invention also contemplates the provision, for use in a machine of the general character above referred to, of an improved and simplified shoe supporting jack. The novel features of this jack consist in certain constructions and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed, the advantages of which will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

In connection with the jack of the machine, a feature of the present invention contemplates the provision of a new and improved device for facilitating the application and removal of shoes upon and from the jack. This device comprises a shoe support mounted on the jack in proximity to the shoe clamping devices of the jack, which support is adapted to receive alternately a shoe to be operated upon and a shoe upon which an operation has been completed by the machine. The provision of this support on the jack in proximity to the shoe clamping means of the jack, permits the operator, at the conclusion of an operation on a shoe, to remove the completed shoe from the jack and substitute therefor the shoe which has previously been placed in the support, placing the removed shoe on the support and allowing it to remain there until the machine is started into operation. During the operation on the shoe the completed shoe may be removed from the support and a shoe to be operated upon substituted therefor. By handling the shoes in this manner, a considerable saving in the time during which the machine remains idle may be effected.

The several features of the present invention will be clearly understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which is illustrated a machine similar to the machine disclosed in applicants pending application above referred to with the several features of the invention embodied therein.

Referring to the drawings Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of the machine; Figure 2 is a View of the machine, in side elevation, with a portion of the machine base broken away to show underlying parts; Figure 3 is a detail sectional view showing in front elevation a portion of the mechanism for controlling the longitudinal tipping movements of the jack; Figur 4 is a sectional view showing in side elevation and on an enlarged scale, a portion of the mechanism ilin Figure 5, but looking in the opposite direction;

Figure 7 is a detail sectional view taken on the line l'! of Figure 6; Figure 8 is a view in front elevation, partly in section, of the jack frame of the improved jack with the parts supported thereon; Figure 9 is a plan view of the parts illustrated in Figure 8; Figure 10 is a plan view of the parts illustrated in Figure 8 with the cradle of the jack and parts supported thereon removed and with certain parts shown in section; Figure 11 is a view of the jack frame similar to Figure 8 but illustrating a shoe clamped on the jack and with the parts supported on the jack frame in the position which they assume at the conclusion of the lasting operation and just prior to unclamping the shoe; and Figure 12 is a sectional view of the parts illustrated in Figure 11, taken on the line l2--l 2 of said figure.

Except as hereinafter described, the machine illustrated in the drawings is the same in all essential particulars as the machine disclosed in applicants pending application above referred to.

The lasting units of the machine are indicated at 2, the operating cam shaft at 4, the pattern cam shafts at 6 and 8, and the shoe supporting jack at H]. The oscillating and longitudinally 2,252,325- moving lever through which intermittent rotary movements are imparted to the pattern cam shafts from the operating cam shaft is indicated at l2 and is provided, as in the machine of the patent, with a pin l4 at its lower end moving in an elliptical path and intermittently engaging radial slots in a disk l6 secured to the pattern cam shaft 8. The slotted arm which is engaged by the pin l 4 is indicated at 18 and the arm which is actuated from the arm I8 and which carries a locking roll which engages the slots in the disk I8 is indicated at 20.

The mechanism for driving the operating cam shaft 4 is the same as in the patented machine and comprises a clutch driven from a motor 22 through a belt and gearing, as illustrated in Figure 2, and controlled by means of a cultch shifting rod indicated at 24. This clutch shifting rod is connected at its lower end to the outer end of a lever 26, the inner end of which is connected by means of a rod 28 to the forward end of a link 30 which extends above and slightly to one side of the rear end of a treadle lever 32. Connections are provided between the lower end of the rod 28 and the rear end of the treadle lever so that depression of the front end of the treadle lever raises the rod 28 and through the lever 26 depresses the clutch shifting rod 24 to close the clutch and thus throw the driving mechanism into operation. Upward movement of the clutch shifting rod under the influence of a spring 34 secured to the rod opens the clutch and throws the driving mechanism out of operation. The driving mechanism is retained in operation by means of a latch 36 which engages a lug 38 formed on the lower end of the rod 28 and at the completion of the operation on the shoe the driving mechanism is thrown out of operation by moving the lug out of engagement with the latch. This is accomplished by a stop cam in the form of an arm 40 secured to the pattern cam shaft 8 and having pivotally mounted thereon a spring pressed block 42, a downwardly extending arm of which is arranged to engage a lug 44 on link 30 and move the link ina direction to disengage the lug 38 from the latch 36 as the pattern camshaft completes its revolution. The link 30 has an endwise movement to disengage the lug 38 from the latch 36 and immediately thereafter a downward movement by reason of its connection with the rod 28. To permit these movements, the link 30 at its rear end is pivotally connected to the upper end of a supporting link 46. A spring 48 connected to the link 45 tends to move the link 30 to the right as viewed in Figures 4 and 5, and while the machine is in operation, holds the lug 33 in. engagement with the latch 36, the movement of the link 30 under the force of the spring 48 being limited by a stop screw 50 mounted in a horizontal arm of the supporting link 46 and engaging a lug on the machine base. As has been described, the construction and operation of the automatic stopping mechanism is substantially the same as in the machine of applicants prior application with the exception that in the illustrated machine the block 42 is actuated directly by the movement of the pattern cam shaft 8 to move the link 30 instead of being positioned by the shaft, and finally actuated to move the link by a connection from the oscillating and longitudinally moving lever 12.

In applicants prior machine, the retaining devices corresponding to the lug 38 on the rod 28 and the latch 36, which act on the connections between the starting treadle lever 32 and the driving clutch to hold the driving mechanism in operation, are so constructed and arranged that an actuation of these retaining devices by the stop cam on the pattern cam shaft will fail to stop the machine in case the treadle lever happens to be depressed by the operator at this time. To provide a novel and improved mechanism for stopping the machine automatically whether or not the starting treadle is in depressed position, the connections between the treadle lever 32 and the rod 28, through which the clutch is controlled, comprise a block 52 on one side of the treadle lever and a lug 54 formed on the lower end of the rod 28 on the opposite side of the link 30 from the lug 38, the block 52 and lug 54 being so arranged that an endwise movement of the link 38 to disengage the lug 38 from the latch 36 moves the lug 54 out of the path of the block 52 on the treadle lever. The clutch control rod 28 therefore will be free to descend whenever the link 3%! is moved by the stop cam, and the driving clutch will be opened regardless of the position of the starting treadle.

In applicants prior machine the retaining latch, corresponding to the latch 36, is rigid with the machine frame, and consequently the driving mechanism can be thrown out of operation only by moving the link 31? to remove the lug at the lower end of the clutch control rod from the latch. This construction necessitates the provision of an additional mechanism for moving the link 30 to enable the operator to stop the machine before the operation on the shoe is completed, as is sometimes necessary or desirable. Also an alternate actuation of the starting treadle and this additional mechanism is required whenever the operator wishes to start and stop the machine. To. place the driving mechanism directly under the control of the starting treadle both to start and to stop the machine, the retaining latch 36 of the illustrated construction is pivotally mounted on the machine base and is normally yieldingly held in position to engage the lug 38 by a spring'tfi, and a treadle lever is provided arranged when actuated to move the latch 36 out of the path of the lug. This treadle lever is indicated at 58, pivotally mounted on the pivot shaft of the starting treadle lever 32 and provided at its rear end with a roll to engage the latch 36. At its forward end the lever 58 is provided with a treadle bearing extension Gil pivoted to swing horizontally so as to bring a lug 62 thereon beneath the shoulder of a plate 34 and lock the latch 36 out of operative position.

The jack supporting structure of the illustrated machine is the same as in the machine of applicants pending application above referred to and comprises the jack frame H], a supporting link 66, and a base 68 provided with an upwardly extending pivotally mounted arm iii to the upper end of which the jack frame supporting link 66 is pivoted. The connections actuated from the pattern cam shaft 6 for imparting shoe feeding movements to the jack are also the same as in' the machine of applicants pending application, the cam actuated lever of these connections being indicated at 12. The mean for imparting longitudinal tipping movements to the jack are also substantially the same as in the machine of applicants pending application. The arm which extends from the base 68 into engagement with the cam on the pattern cam shaft 6, however, in the illustrated machine is arranged to extend horizontally instead of vertically, and in the place of a spring acting upwardly on an arm I4 extending from the base of the jack supporting structure to hold the arm of the base in contact with the cam, a cord 16 is attached to the arm I4 and leads downwardly and then upwardly over guiding rolls to the lower end of a spring "I3. Also, to check the movement of the jack supporting structure as the horizontal arm of the base 68 passes off of the high portion of the cam, the plunger 80 of a dash pot construction of conventional design is connected through upwardly extending links 62 and a cross head 84 to the arm I4.

The spring for exerting an upward pressure on the jack is indicated at 86 and is connected as in the machine of applicants pending application to the rear end of a lever arm 88 pivotally mounted on the base of the machine. From the rear end of the lever arm 88 a cord 96 leads through the hollow pivot of the base portion of the jack supporting structure and over guides on the base and arm I0, and is connected to the lower end of a link 92, the upper end of which is connected to the jack frame I0. The toggle which renders the spring 86 inoperative and which looks the spring out of operation at the conclusion of the operation on the shoe comprises pivotally connected members 94 and 66 as in the machine of applicants pending application, the upper member being pivotally connected to the frame of the machine and the lower member 96 being pivotally connected to the outer end of a lever arm 98 pivotally mounted on the base of the machine concentrically with the lever arm 88 and provided with a set screw I bearing against a lug on the lever arm 88. The straightening of the toggle at the conclusion of the operation on a shoe is effected from a pattern cam actuated lever I62, as in applicants prior machine. The connection between the lever 562 and toggle is, however, somewhat different from that of applicants prior machine, the lever I02 in the illustrated machine being provided with an upwardly extending arm IM at the upper end of which is pivotally mounted an upwardly extending arm I06 which is connected by means of a link I08 to the member 96 of the toggle adjacent the pivotal connection of the toggle members. During the operation on the shoe, the upward and downward movements which are imparted to the jack frame I0 acting through the cord 90 and lever arm 88 cause the toggle formed by the members 94 and 96 to be flexed and, in order to avoid interference with these flexing movements, a yielding connection is provided between the arm I06 and the upwardly extending arm I04 by means of a spring III) coiled around the pivot and a set screw II2 passing through a downward projection from the arm I06 and bearing against the rear surface of the arm I00.

The straightening of the toggle 94, 96 is also utilized in the illustrated machine, as in applicants prior machine, to move the jack outwardly away from operating position, and the return movement of the jack to operative position is utilized to break the toggle. To this end a horizontally sliding bar H4 is provided as in applicants prior machine which at its inner end is connected to the upper member 94 of the toggle, and at its outer end extends into a position to contact with a plate II6 secured to the jack frame I0.

As has been stated, a feature of the present for resisting the movement of the toggle to a completely straightened position as the toggle is flexed during a downward movement of the jack, and also the provision of means acting while the toggle is in straightened position to resist movement of the toggle away from its straightened position until the jack has been returned to its operative position. In the illustrated embodiment of this feature of the invention, a spring pressed plunger H8 is mounted on the machine base above the slide I I4, and the slide is provided on its upper surface with a wide notch I20 and with a narrow notch I22. During the operation on the shoe, the plunger bears against the bottom of the wide notch I20 with a sufficiently light pressure to offer no appreciable resistance to the movement of the slide. As the toggle lever nears straightened position, however, the plunger engages the surface at the inner end of the wide notch and offers an appreciable resistance to further movement of the toggle. When the toggle is completely straightened by the action of the pattern cam actuated connections at the conclusion of the operation on the shoe, the raised portion of the slide H4 between the notches I20 and I22 is forced past the plunger H8 and the plunger enters the narrow notch I22, and thus securely holds the toggle in straightened position until the slide H0 is forcibly moved inwardly by contact with the plate II6 as the jack is moved to operative position.

In applicants prior machine the cord corresponding to the cord 96 through which upward pressure is imparted to the jack is connected, as has been stated, to the pivotal connection of two links one of which is connected to the jack frame and the other of which is connected to the base member of the jack supporting structure. To avoid the variation in upward pressure due to this arrangement, the lower end of the link 92 to which the cord 90 is connected is arranged to have a sliding engagement with the base portion of the jack. In the construction shown, the lower end of the link 92 is offset horizontally and is shaped to be received in a guideway formed by parallel vertical ribs on the arm III of the jack supporting structure, and is provided with a roll I24 bearing against the bottom of the guideway.

The spring through which the grippers are caused to exert a varying tension on the shoe upper at diiferent points along the shoe is indicated at I26. The spring surrounds a rod I28 connected to a pattern cam actuated lever I30, as in applicants prior machine, and bears against a block I32 through which the rod I28 passes. The spring is arranged to act on the gripper actuating mechanism through a lever arm I34 and connecting rod I36 corresponding to the lever arm and connecting rod of applicants prior machine. To enable the tension of the spring I26 to be readily adjusted by the operator even while the machine is in operation or while the action of the grippers on the upper is being tried out, while the machine is operated slowly, the block I32, instead of being mounted directly on the lever arm I34, is mounted upon an adjusting lever I38 and this lever is pivotally connected at one end to the lever I34 and at the other end is connected by means of a rod I46 to a manually actuable lever I42 pivotally mounted on the upper portion of the machine base in a position to be conveniently accessible by the operator. Upward invention contemplates the provision of means movement of this lever moves the block I32 upwardly, thereby increasing the tension of the spring I26. A spring pressed latch I44 mounted on. the lever I42 cooperates with a toothed plate I46 to hold the lever in adjusted position.

The mechanism for actuating the lasting grippers of the illustrated machine and for controlling the tension exerted upon the upper by the grippersis substantially the same as in applicants prior machine. It may be noted, however, that no lost motion is provided in the connection between the lever arm I48 to which the rod I36 is connected and the rod I50, but instead a lost motion connection is provided between the lever arm I34 and the pattern cam actuated lever I30,

a lug I52 on the lever arm 134 being arranged to extend above a cooperating lug I54 on the lever I30.

The improved and simplified shoe supporting jack with which the illustrated machine has been provided is intended as an improvement on the shoe supporting jacks disclosed in applicants prior Patent No. 1,999,298 dated April 30, 1935, and in applicants pending applications Ser. No. 231,750 filed September 26, 1938 and Ser. No. 273,234 filed May 12, 1939. The novel features of this jack comprise improved means for looking the laterally swinging cradle which carries the heel and toe supports of the jack from movement except while the machine is in operation, an improved mechanism for tripping the shoe clamping mechanism into operation upon placing a shoe upon the jack, an improved mechanism for resetting the clamping mechanism to unclamp the shoe at the conclusion of the operation on the shoe, and an improved means for guiding the toe portion of the shoe as the shoe is moved towards the toe rest during the clamping of the shoe on the jack. The jack of the illustrated machine comprises the jack frame I0, a cradle I56 pivotally mounted in the jack frame to swing about an axis extending close to the bottom of a supported shoe lengthwise of the shoe, a heel supporting last pin I58 yieldingly supported for vertical movement in a slide I60 mounted in the cradle I56 to slide longitudinally of the cradle and a toe support for the shoe comprising toe supporting grips I62 and a toe gage I64 also mounted on the cradle I56. A spring I66 extends longitudinally of the .cradle I56 and is secured at one end to the toe portion of the cradle and at the other end to the slide I60. This spring is constructed and arranged to act at all times upon the slide I and to move the slide towards the toe rest to clamp the shoe on the jack, the construction and operation being the same as in the jacks of applicantsprior patent and pending applications above referred to. -To move the slide I60 away from the toe rest so as to unclamp the shoe and to hold the slide in this position until a new shoe is placed on the jack, a pawl bar I68 is provided as in applicants prior constructions, but this pawl bar instead of enaging a projection on the slide I60 is arranged to engage a movable member comprising lever arms I10 pivotally mounted on the jack frame I 0 and connected near their free ends by a cross pin I12 arranged to be engaged by a shoulder I14 at the free end of the pawl bar. The member formed by the lever arms I10 is connectedby a link I16 to the slide I60, the link being in the form of a rod provided with eyes at each end surrounding a cross pin I18 connecting the lever arms I10 and a cross pin I60 connecting flanges extending downwardly from the slide I60. The link I16 extends lengthwise of the slide I60 and lies approximately in a vertical plane passing through the pivotal supports for the cradle I56, the arrangement being such that the pull exerted on the slide I60 against the tension of the spring I66 while the member I10 is being actuated and held by the pawl lever I68 swings the cradle I56 into a vertical position and substantially looks it against swinging movement, until the member I10 is released by the pawl bar in placing a new shoe on the jack.

The mechanism for actuating the pawl bar I68 is substantially the same as that utilized in applicants pending applications and comprises a pulley I62 mounted in the jack frame and rotated from a pattern cam shaft through connections comprising a cord I84, a lever arm I86 pivotally mounted at one end upon the jack frame I0 and having the pawl bar I68 pivotally mounted upon its upper end and a link I88 connecting the lever I36 with a crank pin on the pulley I02. To hold the pawl bar I68 in position to engage the cross pin I12 of the member I 10, a lever I00 is pivotally mounted at I32 on the jack frame I0 above the pawl bar. At one end this lever is provided with a roll I94 extending beneath the pawl bar 168 and at its other end is connected to a spring I96 by means of which the roll I94 is forced upwardly to hold the pawl bar yieldingly in engagement with the stop formed by the pivot I02 of the lever.

To release the heel supporting slide I60 and permit it to move towards the toe rest when a shoe is placed on the jack, a lever I98 is pivotally mounted on the jack frame I0 in position to be swung downwardly by the downward movement of the last pin I58, and is arranged to extend above an end portion of the pawl bar projecting beyond the shoulder I14 of the bar. The lever I98 is normally held in position against a limiting stop 200 by a spring 202, and the arrangement is such that a depression of the last pin by the placing of ashoe on the jack moves the pawl bar I68 downwardly a suiiicient distance to permit the cross pin I12 on the member I10 to pass above the bar, and thus permits the heel supporting slide I60 to be moved by the spring I66 so as to clamp theshoe against the toe rest.

The chute for guiding the toe portion of the shoe onto the toe rest during the shoe clamping operation is indicated at 204. This chute consists of a plate pivotally mounted at 206 on the cradle I56 and shaped so as to provide upwardly extending side portions to engage the last supported upper at the toe portion of the shoe. The movement of the heel supporting slide towards the toe rest takes place while the toe clamps I62 are in retracted position and the upwardly extending sides of the chute 204 are arranged so that the toe portion of the shoe is accurately guided between the toe grips without any liability of injury to the shoe upper from contact with the grips.

The shoe support which is mounted on the jack in proximity to the shoe clamping devices of the jack for the purpose of facilitating the handling of shoes while the machine is in stopped position as indicated at 208. This support consists of a shelf secured to the upper end of the arm 10 of the jack supporting structure. The shelf is in the form of a trough shaped to fit approximately the last supported upper of a shoe placed on the shelf with the sole uppermost. As has been stated, the provision of this shoe support in proximity to the shoe clamping devices of the jack permits the operator at the conclusion of the operation on a shoe to remove the completed shoe from the jack and substitute another shoe therefor without appreciable loss of time.

The nature and scope of the invention having been indicated, and an embodiment of the several features of the invention having been specifically described, what is claimed is:

1. A machine for use in the manufacture of shoes having, in combination, devices for performing an operation progressively along the bottom margin of a shoe, an operating cam shaft, and connections for actuating said devices, a shoe supporting jack, pattern cams, and connections for controlling the relative positions of said devices and jack during the operation on the shoe, driving mechanism for rotating the cam shaft and pattern cams, a shifter member connected to said mechanism and movable in opposite directions to throw said mechanism into and out of operation, a treadle and connections for moving said shifter member to throw said mechanism into operation, latching devices to retain the shifter member when so moved, means for moving the shifter member when released to throw said driving mechanism out of operation, a stop cam driven by said mechanism, and connections for actuating the latching devices from the cam to release the shifter member and for simultaneously rendering the connections between the treadleand the shifter member inoperative.

, 2, A maehine for use in the manufacture of shoes having, in combination, devices for performing an operation progressively along the bottom margin of a shoe, an operating cam shaft, and connections for actuating said devices, a shoe supporting jack, pattern cams, and connections for controlling the relative positions of said devices and jack during the operation on the shoe, driving mechanism for rotating the cam shaft and pattern cams, a shifter member connected to said mechanism and movable in opposite directionsto throw said mechanism into and out of operation, a treadle and connections for moving said shifter member to throw said mechanism into operation, latching devices to retain the operative to throw the driving mechanism both into and out of operation by movement of the treadle.

3. A machine for use in the manufacture of shoes having, in combination, devices for performing an operation progressively along the bottom margin of a shoe, an operating cam shaft, and connections for actuating said devices, a shoe supporting jack, pattern cams, and connections for controlling the relative positions of said devices and jack during the operation on the shoe, driving mechanism for rotating the cam shaft and pattern cams, a shifter member connected to said mechanism and movable in opposite directions to throw said mechanism into and out of operation, a treadle and connections for moving said shifter member to throw said mechanism into operation, latching devices to retain the shifter member, when so moved, means for moving the shifter member when released to throw said driving mechanism out of operation, a stop cam driven by said mechanism, connections for actuating the latching devices from the cam to release the shifter member and for simultaneously rendering the connections between the treadle and the shifter member inoperative, and manually controlled means for holding the latching devices out of operation while maintaining the connections between the treadle and the shifter member operative to throw the driving mechanism both into and out of operation by movement of the treadle.

4. A machine for use in the manufacture of shoes having, in combination, devices for performing an operation progressively along the bottom margin of a shoe, an operating cam shaft, and connections for actuating said devices, a shoe supporting jack, pattern cams, and connections for controlling the relative positions of said devices and jack during the operation on the shoe, driving mechanism for rotating the cam shaft and pattern cams, a shifter member connected to said mechanism and movable in opposite directions to throw said mechanism into and out of operation, a treadle and connections for moving said shifter member to throw said mechanism into operation, a latching lug on the shifter member, a cooperating latch to engage the latching lug on the shifter member and retain the shifter member when so moved, a stop cam driven by said shaft, connections actuated by the cam for disconnecting the latching lug and latch to release the shifter member, means for moving the shifter member when released to throw said driving mechanism out of operation, and manually operated means for actuating the cooperating latch to release the shifter member and for holding the latch out of operation to permit the driving mechanism to be thrown both into and out of operation by movement of the treadle.

5. A machine for use in the manufacture of shoes having, in combination, devices for performing an operation progressively along the bottom margin of a shoe, an operating cam shaft, and connections for actuating said devices, a shoe supporting jack, pattern cams, and connections for controlling the relative positions of said devices and jack during the operation on the shoe, driving mechanism for rotating the cam shaft and pattern cams, a shifter member connected to said mechanism and movable in opposite directions to throw said mechanism into and out of operation, a treadle and connections for moving said shifter member to throw said mechanism into operation, a latching lug on the shifter member, a cooperating latch to engage the latching lug on the shifter member and retain the shifter member when so moved, a stop cam driven by said shaft, connections actuated by the cam for disconnecting the latching lug and latch to release the shifter member, and for simultaneously rendering the connections between the treadle and the shifter member inoperative, means for moving the shifter member when released to throw said driving mechanism out of operation, and manually controlled means for actuating the cooperating latch to release the shifter member and for holding the latch out of operation to permit the driving mechanism to be thrown both into and out of operation by movement of the treadle.

6. A machine for use in the manufacture of shoes having, in combination, devices for performing an operation progressively along the bottom margin of a shoe, an operating cam shaft, and connections for actuating said devices, a shoe supporting jack, pattern cams, and connections for controlling the relative positions of said devices and jack during the operation on the shoe, a driving clutch mechanism driven by the clutch for rotating the operating cam shaft and the pattern cams, a treadle and connections for closing the clutch, devices acting on said connections to retain the clutch in closed position, means for opening the clutch upon the release of said connections by the treadle and by said devices, and mechanism driven by the clutch in timed relation with the operating cam shaft and pattern cams for actuating said devices to release said connections and for simultaneously disconnecting said connections from the treadle.

7. A machine for use in the manufacture of shoes having, in combination, devices for performing an operation progressively along the bottom margin of a shoe, an operating cam shaft, and connections for actuating said devices, a shoe supporting jack, pattern cams, and

connections for controlling the relative positions of said devices and jack during the operation on the shoe, a driving clutch mechanism driven by the clutch for rotating the operating cam shaft and the pattern cams, a treadle and connections for closing the clutch, devices acting on said connections toretain theclutch in closed position, means for opening the clutch upon the release of said connections by the treadle and by said devices, mechanism driven by the clutch in timed relation with the operating cam shaft and pattern cams for actuating said devices to release said connections, and manually controlled means for rendering said devices inoperative and for placing said connections directly under the control of the treadle both to open and to close the clutch.

8. A machine foruse in the manufacture of shoes having, in combination, devices for performing an operation progressively along the bottom margin of a shoe, an operating cam shaft and connections for actuating said devices, a shoe supporting jack, means including a spring exerting an upward pressure on the jack to force the shoe towards said devices, a toggle connected to the spring and arranged to be flexed by the up and down movements of the jack, means acting to resist further movement of the toggle as the toggle nears straightened position during a down movement of the jack, and means acting at the completion of, the operation on the shoe to straighten the toggle and thereby render the spring inoperative and lock the spring out of operation.

9. A machine for use in the manufacture of shoes having, in combination, devices for performing an operation progressively along the bottom margin of a shoe, an operating cam shaft and connections for actuating said devices, a shoe supporting jack, means including a spring exerting an upward pressure on the jack to force the shoe towards said devices, a toggle connected to the spring and arranged to be flexed by the up and down movements of the jack, means acting at the completion of the operation on the shoe to straighten the toggle and thereby render the spring inoperativeand'lock the spring outof operation, and means acting only while the to gle is in straightened position to resist movement of the toggle from said position.

10. A machine for use in the manufacture of shoes having, in combination, devices for performing an operation progressively along thebottom margin of a shoe, an operating cam shaft and connections for actuating said devices, a shoe supporting jack, means including a spring exerting an upward pressure on the jack to force the shoe towards said devices, a toggle connected to the spring and arranged to be flexed by the up and down movements of the jack, means acting at the completion of the operation on the shoe to straighten the toggle and thereby render the spring inoperative and lock the spring out of operation, a member connected to move with the toggle, and means acting on said member to resist further movement of the toggle as the toggle nears straightened position during downward movement of the jack and to resist movement of the toggle after being straightened at the completion of the operation on the shoe.

11. A machine for use in the manufacture of shoes having, in combination, devices for performing an operation progressively along the bottom margin of a shoe, an operating cam shaft and connections for actuating said devices, a shoe supporting jack, means including a spring exerting an upward pressure on the jack to force the shoe towards said devices, a toggle connected to the spring and arranged to be flexed by the up and down movements of the jack, means acting at the completion of the operation on the shoe to straighten the toggle and thereby render the spring inoperative and lock the spring out of operation, a slide connected to the toggle arranged to move the jack outwardly from operative position as the toggle is straightened and to be actuated by the jack in moving to operative position to break the toggle, and a device acting on the slide to resist movement of the toggle as the toggle nears straightened position during downward movement of the jack and to resist movement of the toggle after being straightelrlied at the completion of the operation on the s oe.

12. A machine for use in the manufacture of shoes having, in combination, devices for performing an operation progressively along the bottom margin of a shoe, an operating cam shaft and connections for actuating said devices, a shoe supporting jack frame movable about a pivotal axis transverse and substantially parallel to the shoe bottom to transfer the point of operation along the shoe, a jack frame supporting link pivotally connected at one end to the jack frame, a supporting member to which the other end of the supporting link is pivotally connected, and means for exerting an upward pressure on the jack to force the shoe towards the operating devices comprising a cord, a guide on the member over which the cord passes, a'link to which one end of the cord is secured pivotally connected at one end to the jack frame and at the other end having a sliding engagement with said supporting member, and means connected to the other end of the cord for exerting a pull on the cord.

13. A lasting machine having, in combination, lasting devices including an upper stretching gripper arranged to have an updraw movement away from the sole of a shoe presented to said devices, cyclically operating mechanisms for actuating said devices to last progressively the shoe upper as the point of operation is transferred along the shoe, said mechanism including a spring through which a yielding updraw movement is imparted to the gripper, means acting automatically during the lasting operation to vary the tension of the spring, and means conveniently accessible to the operator for adjusting the tension of the spring during the lasting operation.

14. A lasting machine having, in combination, lasting devices including any upper stretching gripper arranged to have an updraw movement away from the sole of a shoe presented to said devices, cyclically operating mechanisms for actuating said devices to last progressively the shoe upper as the point of operation is transferred along the shoe, said mechanism including a spring through which a yielding updraw movement is imparted to the gripper, a pattern cam and connections actuated by the cam for varying automatically the tension of the spring during the lasting operation, a hand lever conveniently accessible to the operator during the lasting operation, and connections actuated by the lever for adjusting the tension of the spring.

15. A lasting machine having, in combination, lasting devices including an upper stretching gripper arranged to have an updraw movement away from the sole of a shoe presented to said devices, mechanism for actuating the gripper comprising a cam, connections between the cam and the gripper including a lever, means including the spring for yieldingly supporting the fulcrum of the lever against movement during the updraw movement of the gripper, a pattern cam, and connections actuated by the cam for varying automatically the tension of the spring during the lasting operation, a hand lever conveniently accessible to the operator during the lasting operation, and connections actuated by the hand lever for adjusting the tension of the spring.

16. In a machine for use in the manufacture of shoes, a shoe supporting jack comprising a jack frame, a shoe supporting cradle mounted in the jack frame to swing about an axis extending longitudinally of a shoe on the cradle in proximity to the plane of the shoe sole, shoe clamping means mounted on the cradle comprising a toe rest, a heel support, a slide on which the heel support is mounted, a spring tending to move the slide towards the toe rest to clamp the shoe, a member mounted on the jack frame to move towards and from the toe rest, a pawl mounted on the jack frame, means for actuatin the pawl to move said member away from the toe rest, and a link connecting said member and said slide to move the slide when said member is actuated by the pawl and lock the cradle from swinging movement,

17. In a machine for use in the manufacture of shoes, a shoe supporting jack comprising a jack frame, a shoe supporting cradle mounted in the jack frame to swing about an axis extending longitudinally of a shoe on the cradle in proximity to the plane of the shoe sole, shoe clamping means mounted on the crade comprising a toe rest, a heel support, a slide on which the heel support is mounted, a spring tending to move the slide towards the toe rest to clamp the shoe, a lever mounted on the jack frame to move towards and from the toe rest, a pawl mounted on the jack frame arranged to engage said lever, means for actuating the pawl to engage and move the lever away from the toe rest, and a link connecting said lever and slide to move the slide, when said lever is actuated by the pawl, and lock the cradle from swinging movement.

18. In a machine for use in themanufacture of shoes, a shoe supporting jack, shoe clamping means mounted on the jack comprising a toe rest, a heel support, a slide on which the heel support is mounted, a spring tending to move the slide towards the toe rest to clamp the shoe, a member mounted to move with the slide towards and from the toe rest, a pawl bar mounted on the jack frame arranged to engage said member, means for reciprocating said pawl bar, means comprising a pin on the slide arranged to be actuated by a last placed on the heel support, for disengaging the pawl bar from said member, a spring pressed lever for yieldingly moving the pawl bar into position to engage said member, and a stop on the jack frame to limit the yielding movement of said pawl bar.

19. In a machine for use in the manufacture of shoes, a shoe supporting jack, shoe clamping means mounted on the jack comprising a toe rest, a heel support, a slide on which the heel support is mounted, a spring tending to move the slide towards the toe rest to clamp the shoe, a member mounted to move with the slide towards and from the toe rest, a pawl bar mounted on the jack frame arranged to engage said member, means for reciprocating said pawl bar, means comprising a pin on the slide arranged to be actuated by a lastplaced on the heel support for disengaging the pawl bar from said member, a spring pressed lever mounted on the jack frame with one end in engagement with the pawl bar to yieldingly move the pawl bar into position to engage said member, and a stop located adjacent the fulcrum of the lever to limit the yielding movement of the pawl bar.

20. In a machine for use in the manufacture of shoes, a shoe supporting jack, shoe clamping means mounted on the jack comprising a toe rest, a heel support, a slide on which the heel support is mounted, a spring tending to move the slide towards the toe rest to clamp the shoe, a member mounted on the jack frame to move with the slide towards and from the toe rest, a pawl bar mounted on the jack frame arranged to engage said member, means for reciprocating said pawl bar, means for yieldingly holding the pawl bar in position to engage said member, and means for disengaging the pawl bar from said member comprising a pin on the slide arranged to be actuated by a last placed on the heel support, and a movable member interposed between the pin and the pawl bar.

21. In a machine for use in the manufacture of shoes, a shoe supporting jack, shoe clamping means mounted on the jack comprising a toe rest, a heel support, a slide on which the heel support is mounted, a spring tending to move the slide towards the toe rest to clamp the shoe, a lever mounted on the jack frame to move towards and from the toe rest, a pawl bar mounted on the jack frame arranged to engage said lever, means for reciprocating the pawl bar, means for yieldingly holding the pawl bar in position to engage the lever, and means for disengaging the pawl bar from said lever comprising a pin on the slide arranged to be actuated by a last placed on the heel support, and a spring pressed lever interposed between said pin and the pawl bar.

22. In a machine for use in the manufacture of shoes, a shoe supporting jackcomprising a heel support and a toe rest relatively movable towards each other to locate a lasted shoe lengthwise on the jack, and a chute pivotally mounted to move with relation to the toe rest and arranged to engage the last supported shoe upper adjacent the toe rest and guide the toe of the shoe onto the toe rest during said relative movement,

23. In a machine for use in the manufacture of shoes, a shoe supporting jack comprising a heel support and a toe rest relatively movable towards each other to locate a lasted shoe lengthwise on the jack, and a chute pivotally mounted on the jack adjacent the toe rest arranged to engage the last supported shoe upper and guide the toe of the shoe onto the toe rest during said relative movement.

24. In a machine for use in the manufacture of shoes, a shoe supporting jack comprising a heel support and a toe rest relatively movable towards each other to locate a lasted shoe lengthwise on the jack, said toe rest comprising toe grips movable towards and from each other into and out of engagement with the sides of the shoe toe, and a chute arranged to engage the last supported shoe upper adjacent the toe rest and guide the toe of the shoe between the toe grips during said relative movement.

25. A machine for use in the manufacture of shoes having, in combination, a shoe supporting jack, shoe clamping means mounted on the jack, devices for performing an operation progressively along the bottom margin of a shoe clamped on the jack, an operating cam shaft and connections for actuating said devices, pattern cams and connections for controlling the relative positions of said devices and jack during the operation on the shoe, and a shoe support mounted on the jack in proximity to said shoev clamping means adapted to receive alternately a shoe to be operated upon and a shoe upon which an operation has been completed by the machine.

ROBERT H. LAWSON. 

